While Chelsea, City and Liverpool are considered to be more genuine contenders for the championship, Rosicky’s side continue to go about their business quietly and confidently – with Sunday’s 1-0 derby win at Tottenham testament to their belief.

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And the Czech Republic midfielder, who scored a brilliant match-winner after just 72 seconds at White Hart Lane, insists Arsenal can only look after themselves.

‘You cannot influence what the people around you are saying. I mean no disrespect to you [the media] but I absolutely don’t care what you are saying – don’t take it negatively, but it is like that,’ said the 33-year-old.

‘Only what counts is that you come to the pitch and win the game.

‘If you don’t win the game, obviously you [the media] are right [about Arsenal]. The only thing you can influence [as a player] is on the pitch – the truth is on the pitch, nothing else matters.’

And Rosicky believes there will be more twists and turns before the four-horse race comes to its conclusion.

‘It can change very, very quickly in two games. You talk about Chelsea and Man City but you have to talk about Liverpool also,’ he added.